The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-12-29
HOW SAM MET A FRIEND.

| HOW SAM MET A FRIEND.
1t not infrequently happens that a
very insignificant and commonplace
individual will, by some unlooked-fol
| accident, achieve notoriety, if not
fame, shining with the luster OF tin
plate on which the sun chances to fall.
So it was with our unsophisticated
exploit, or rather the exploit of his
horse William Hinry, went abroad in
the land, that is, Columbia County,
where he lived. and, though the figure
| he had cut in the affair had been su-
| premely ridiculous, he was the hero OF
the hour, and his name thus became
ineXtricabiy Interviewer with local his
tory. Any ambitious historian who
shall ever undertake to collect and
edit the annals of said county will be
doing a great wrong to posterity If he
neglects to give Sam a conspicuous
place among its celebrities, to which
| he is as justly entitled as many whose
, names are enrolled on the list of those
who have won honorable mention in
the worlds history.
Though Sam had gained nothing
pecuniarily by winning the race, and
bad lost his horse, he really felt as
though he had somehow come out
ahead, for who could tell but that the
incident, which at the time had made
him most miserable, might prove the
first step toward a seat in the "Legis-
latur'," or even in the direction of the
"Guverner's char" itself. The "boys,"
who had at first laughed at the whole
thing, perceiving that the natives came
from all parts to get look at the man
swat winned thet race down ter
'Gusty," began after awhile to think he
really deserved some credit for an
affair to which he had lent no willing
hand.
Sam had made his return to Augusta
riding double with one of his friends,
who kindly accommodated him with
steerage passage on his horse. He was
a little the worse for liquor when he
got home, but managed to pass HIM
self off on his innocent old mother as
very much fatigued traveller, where
upon she insisted upon his taking a
strong, hot toddy and going to bed,
which was just the thing this deceitful
son desired the most to do.
''An' wat did yer do with yer hoss,
Sammy" asked the old lady the next
morning while the two were eating
their breakfast.
Il got shet Nv i'm, maw," replied
Sam.
wat did yer git fur imp"
81 got mOre'n he wuz wuth," said
Sam, putting his hand in his pocket to
finger what was left of the $25.
'MOre'n he was wuth," said his
mother Then yer must er got a good
fgger for i'm, fur yer alters said es he
was a prime hoss."
$50 he wus;" replied Sam; "but, yer
see, he had some tricks thar warn't no
curin i'm Nv, thinking of the glass eyes
that he had carefully slowed away in
a drawer upstairs.
Then I'm glad yer got shet Nv
him." said the old lady, perfectly
satisfied.
During that period when he was
suffering f.om the jokes and jibes Of
his boon companions, Sam had often ex,
pressed a desire to meet that 'feller
1arkins," saying he would make his
"durned eyes blacker'n they wus," il
ne ever got an opportunity, but when
he really did meet him he had re.
covered from all hard feelings and
had begun to look upon the horse.
trader somewhat in the light of a
benefactor.
Sam was riding a mule several
miles from home when a sharp turn in
the road brought him face to face with
this same T.arkins. The latter was
mounted ON black gelding whose coat
shone like silk.
Hello" said Sam thinking of the
threats he had made, and little taken
aback.
Good mornin', stranger" said
Larkins, just as though he had never
seen Sam before. Fine weather for
crappin'."
"Yer don't pear ter ric'lec' me-" said
Sam, checking his steed.
"Well-no," replied Larkins, draw.
ing rein likewise and peering curiously
into the others face. Anyhow. eff
hev ever seed yer afore disremember.
But, ther' fac is, l amt much fur faces
nohow. They bout all pears alike
ter me. Yer see, I'm jest leetle
nigh-sighted."
''Well, don't yer ric'lec that hoss
with glass eyes yer stuck me with
bout yer ago"
"a hoss with glass eyes," repeated
Larkins, looking puzzled. "Yer mean
one er these here hosses with white.
lookin' eyes reckin; they's mos gin'ral
| ly called wall-eyed hosses. never-did
like them sort, an | don't b'lieve ever
owned one NV en-"
NO" said Sam: II mean a rig'lul
glass-eyed hoss-a bline hoss wat he'd
| glass eyes stuck inter his head"
Eyer don't say! An did you git
stuck on hoss like tibet? Wen, the1
was G cute trick, terber sho'," and
Larkins chuckled with great apparent
enjoyment.
Yer done it yersef," said Sam, be-
| ginning to get out of temper at the
cool way in which the other ignored
| the transaction.
"Me!" exclaimed Larkins; "why, ye1
don't mean to say yer think I'd cheaI
a man thet way, do yer? No, stranger. ;
shaking his head slowly, Il amt tha1
| kin'er man. I've been a dealinir
hosses all my life, but never was u
| ter trick like thet-I amt smari
enough. Ttell yer, fur a fac, eff
ever soF yer hoss l don't ric'lic it
Yer didn't sell i'm; We snapped
But reckin yer'll rie'lec' ther hoss';
name, if yer don't ric'lec'me."
"Mebbe l mought; wat wus hi:
nsme?"